Harihar Rajaram

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Harihar Rajaram. Hari was a devoted and loving husband and father and cherished family member whose absence will be forever felt by those whose lives he touched.
Hari was also a beloved professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He was a dedicated educator, mentor, and researcher who made significant contributions to environmental health and engineering. Hari's passion for research and teaching was unparalleled, and his work will continue to have important impacts on his field.
Hari is survived by his beloved wife Vijaya and his beloved son Vinu. Life for them will forever be changed. Hari, Vinu and Vijaya were an inseparable family unit that functioned in unison, it was as though they breathed as one. They meant the world to each other and though they may not be all together physically, they are still and will forever be one in spirit. Hari appa, we love you the most and hold you close to our heart
He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and students.
His family remembers him below:
I will always remember my father as a loving, kind, and joyful man. I remember how he used to read my favorite book to me, an illustrated encyclopedia of dinosaurs, as a child and he would narrate stories about each dinosaur. Mama was always maiasaurus he would say, ferociously guarding the home. I remember how he would always entertain me with his humor and slapstick as a child. Through my most difficult times he was a shoulder to lean on and always supported me. I will never forget the way he smiled when he was happy for me in the best of times and how he was with me for every milestone of my childhood and early adulthood. Words cannot express how much I miss him and wish I could still talk to him every day. -Vinayak
Hari was a great guy - in many ways. He was not just an academic scholar, but also a star athlete, and member of the IIT Madras athletics team, winning medals at Intra and Inter IIT Meets. He also had the distinction of clearing the IIT JEE (the mother of all entrance exams) while in the 11th grade itself, and what with my clearing the JEE from my 12th grade, in the same year, we were both batch-mates, a novelty. He was also a great extrovert, and made friends wherever he went - I had condolence calls from all over India and the US. He was a great brother to me and Bhavani, and was a very popular person within the family too. His loss is unconsolable, and irreparable. Here is a picture taken at our D-11/2 residence at IIT, as little kids - Hari is second from left. May his soul find peace and salvation. -Chandrasekhar ("Chandru") Rajaram
I cannot think of someone more intricately linked to our life trajectory than my uncle, Harihar Rajaram (or "Hari Mama," as he was to me). Even before I was born, he was instrumental in recruiting my mother Bhavani to MIT where she would join him as a graduate student, and later in introducing my mother to my father Ganesh, his former college classmate. Our lives became even further intertwined when my father and Hari Mama started their academic careers at CU Boulder at the same time in 1993. Hari Mama was the only family member present for the birth of both myself and two siblings, as well as many of the other early milestones in our lives. He had a phenomenal memory and was an engaging storyteller-he would frequently have me laughing as he would recount my first time trying solid food or badgering my grandparents. Hari Mama was also the gentlest of souls and a loving brother. Even after we moved to different cities and decades passed, he never missed a weekly call. On behalf of the Rajaram and Shastri families, words cannot begin to express the devastation of his loss. The humor, joy, and unwavering support he brought us will live on in our collective memories. -Gauri Shastri
He was the keeper of our precious childhood memories. The most charming story he narrated was one of Charu, my daughter. Vijaya and Hari were visiting us and stayed home with Charu (3 years old) while we went to the office. On our return, apparently Charu pointed to Vijaya and said: 'Him did it' and burst into tears. This outburst was triggered by Vijaya changing Charu's favorite channel (Barney) earlier in the day. The way Hari narrated this story captured not only his love for his nieces and nephews but also the whimsical and funny side of him which was always on display for the little ones. "Him did it" became a catchphrase amongst our family. The tall lanky man with the mischievous smile and quick step, always the kid magnet, will forever be enshrined in our hearts. - Usha
He had the most amazing ability to remember small memories about all of our family members. I met Hari Chitappa for the first time when he was getting married, I was 4 or 5 years old and I instantly connected with him. I had an obsession with Haagen Daz Coffee ice cream, and he made a point to treat me to it during his own wedding. Decades later, when I myself got engaged, Hari Chitappa texted me his congratulations: "Just as you did on my wedding day, perhaps I will steal you for a few minutes to get coffee ice cream on your wedding day!" This moment is a hallmark of Hari Chitappa's trademark thoughtfulness-he always went out of his way to make you feel loved and special. -Tiya
Hari Chitthappa was the heart of our extended family. He always had a twinkle in his eye and a joke to tell, especially if you were feeling down. When my grandmother passed, even amidst all the chaos and grief, Hari Chitappa found time to comfort me and make sure that I was okay. He was somehow everywhere at once–doing the dishes, lovingly arranging the memorial, making dinner–and checking in on me in the middle of it all. Calling him helpful is an understatement. He was a pillar of strength and love. He held us all together. We are forever grateful to him. -Charu
Hari Chitappa was the most wonderful and helpful person. From optimization algorithms to the Indian cricket team, I enjoyed talking to him on almost anything (and loved his jokes on every possible topic). I will also be forever indebted to him for all his help and guidance regarding my career. -Aditya
Hari Atthimber was the best uncle a kid could ask for. Everytime we got together as a family, he was there to regale us with a tale from his sharp and precise memories – he would always tell me the story of how I had two Barney toys as a kid and explained to him how one Barney could talk and the other Barney could not talk the first time we met. When I moved to Boston for college, he was so excited and would always remind me to visit his favorite spots in the city from when he studied there. Whenever I attempted a run around the Charles river I was motivated by the fact that Hari Atthimber regularly ran the full 26 mile perimeter in graduate school, although I usually only made it about a mile. I will never forget his giant grin and excitement at my wedding when he lifted me up for the garland exchange and walked us to the mandap – that weekend was Hari Atthimber in a nutshell – ever present with a smile and ready to help the family. Our world won't be the same without him. -Divya
Hari Atthimber, aka the monster-tooth man, was more than an uncle to me, he was a friend. A friend with truly crooked teeth. He had explained to me many times why his teeth were the way they were, but I could never remember the full story. Hari Atthimber, on the other hand, remembered everything. His prolific memory wasn't just some kind of party trick; it was his way of making everyone feel special. He had this way of sensing when any of us kids were down, and he'd know exactly the right thing to say to cheer us up. He was there for us in the great times, cracking jokes at the numerous winter break vacations we'd take together and dancing in the baraats of Tiya and Divya's weddings. He was also a pillar of support in the tough times: Carrying my patti up the stairs when she was sick, and driving with me to the airport to pick up my dad after thatha passed away. I like to think that Hari Atthimber's teeth were broken due to all the warmth and radiance that poured out of his smile. How lucky we were to receive his love. We miss him and will love him always. -Arjun
Information for the Ceremony:
Seating for the ceremony will begin at 10 minutes till 12pm.
The Ceremony will be from 12:00pm - 1:00pm.
Eulogies will follow after the cremation.
Donations:
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to our local charity, Beans and Bread, or to a local charity of your choice.
Beans and Bread is a local charity that provides meals, clothing, and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty in our community. They offer a safe space for individuals to access resources, support services, and meals to help them navigate their current circumstances and work towards stability.
To donate to Beans and Bread, you can visit their website at https://www.vincentbaltimore.org/get-help/ and click on the "Donate" button to make a contribution online. You can also mail a check to their address or contact them directly to inquire about other donation options. Your support will help Beans and Bread continue their important work in serving those in need in our community. Thank you for all your support during this difficult time.